دیر
der
The English word 'late' is translated into Urdu as دیر (der).
دیر is used to describe the state of not arriving until after an expected time. While it is used to express lateness, grammatically it functions as a noun meaning 'delay' or 'lateness'.
Meaning: not arriving until after an expected time (adj)
Which one should you use?
For a more formal way to emphasize a delay or tardiness, you can use تاخیر سے. To express the concept of a delay itself in formal settings, the noun تاخیر is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the concept as an adverb meaning 'late in time' or 'with a delay', you add the postposition سے to the noun, resulting in the form دیر سے.
How do you pronounce it?
der
Did you know?
- While دیر describes being late, the word for 'late' when referring to someone who has passed away is مرحوم, which literally means 'the pitied one'.
- The formal term تاخیر is a loanword from Arabic, whereas دیر is rooted in the native Prakrit and Sanskrit traditions of the region.
- In Urdu, the phrase for 'late at night' is often expressed as رات گئے, which literally translates to 'night having gone' or 'night became late'.
Examples in context
- رات کو دیر نہ جاگو۔Don't stay up late at night.This sentence shows how to use دیر when talking about staying up late at night.Tatoeba #12486889 by Roomba_Unit, translation #1437119 by CK
- ابھی بھی دیر نہیں ہوئی۔It's never too late.This sentence uses دیر to express that it is never too late.Tatoeba #1465686 by nabeel_tahir, translation #1332565 by CM
- بینک کتنی دیر تک کھلا ہے؟How late is the bank open?This sentence uses دیر to ask about how late an establishment is open.Tatoeba #1539355 by nabeel_tahir, translation #18428 by CK
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are waiting for a bus.
- عمر Omarبس بہت دیر ہو گئی ہے۔Bus bohat der ho gayi hai.The bus is very late.
- عائشہ Ayeshaہاں، وہ ہمیشہ دیر سے آتی ہے۔Haan, woh hamesha der se aati hai.Yes, it always arrives late.
- عمر Omarکیا ہم ٹیکسی لے لیں؟Kya hum taxi le lein?Should we take a taxi?
- عائشہ Ayeshaہاں، اب بہت دیر ہو رہی ہے۔Haan, ab bohat der ho rahi hai.Yes, it is getting very late now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
